15
is the stuff life is made of," as poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting that “the sleeping fox catches no poultry," and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave," as Poor Richard says. If time be of all things the most precious," wasting time must be," as Poor Richard says, "the greatest prodigality;" since as he elsewhere tells us "Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose, so by diligence shall we do more, with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry, all easy; and he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night" while, "laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy, and wise," as Poor Richard says.
So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. "Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope, will be fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands, or if I have, they are smartly taxed. He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve, for at the working man's house, hunger looks in but dares not enter.' Nor will the bailiff, or the constable enter; for industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them. What though you
